stippling

From the verb stipple: (⇒ conjugate)

stippling is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

stip•ple /ˈstɪpəl/   v., -pled, -pling, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. Fine Art to paint, engrave, or draw by dots or small touches.

n. [uncountable] Also, ˈstip•pling. 

2. Fine Art the method of painting, etc., by stippling.
3. Fine Art stippled work.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

stip•ple  (stip′əl), v., -pled, -pling, n. 
v.t. 

1. to paint, engrave, or draw by means of dots or small touches.

n. Also, stip′pling. 

2. the method of painting, engraving, etc., by stippling.
3. stippled work;
   a painting, engraving, or the like, executed by means of dots or small spots.

• Dutch stippelen, frequentative of stippen to dot, derivative of stip dot
• 1660–70

stip′pler, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stipple / ˈstɪp^əl/ verb (transitive)

1. to draw, engrave, or paint using dots or flecks
2. to apply paint, powder, etc, to (something) with many light dabs

noun
also: stippling

1. the technique of stippling or a picture produced by or using stippling

Etymology: 18th Century: from Dutch stippelen, from stippen to prick, from stip point

ˈstippler noun